Ahead of the bipartisan bicameral meeting with President Barack Obama today, House Republican leaders appealed for the president to end the “sad lack of bipartisanship— that they say has occurred in the first 100 days of the administration and outlined three specific areas where they hope to work with Democrats.

“House Republicans have kept our promise to offer better solutions, and have put forward numerous proposals to help small business and working families, stabilize home values, and make it easier to restore the savings of millions of Americans,— the Republican leaders said in a letter to Obama sent Wednesday night. “Unfortunately there has been a sad lack of bipartisanship.—

They then outlined a number of proposals dealing with small business, housing and personal savings that they hoped the president would consider incorporating into future policies, including a tax cut to allow small-business holders to deduct an amount equal to 20 percent of their income, a $5,000 mortgage refinancing credit and a two-year suspension of the capitol gains tax “on newly acquired assets.—

The letter also reiterated GOP criticism of the Democratic budget and of Democratic leaders who, Republicans have charged, have locked them out of the negotiating room time and time again.

“Beyond these tangible, moderate and common sense policies, we also hope that we can continue to work together to prevent passing a budget proposal that increases taxes, spending and deficits and debt to record levels,— according to the letter signed by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Policy Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) and Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

“Democratic leaders in Congress have so far ignored your call for a new era of bipartisanship in Washington — however the next 100 days will be different,— the Republicans said, as Obama leads Democrats in opening doors to the GOP.